Be Our Partner! Book a Free Consultation Now! Become a Member > Get Involved >
Health Conditions > Health Articles > Find a Practitioner > Events >

Home  /  Health Conditions  /  Gallbladder Problems & Gallstones

Gallbladder Problems & Gallstones

Gallstones are very common and most never cause trouble. When they do, the usual answer is keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder — and you can live normally without it. Belly pain lasting hours, fever, or yellow skin or eyes needs care right away.

Get medical care right away — go to an emergency room if you can’t reach your doctor quickly — if you have any of these during or after a gallbladder attack (NIDDK):

The UK’s NHS says to call for emergency help for sudden, severe belly pain; pain spreading to your back while being sick; a very high temperature or feeling hot, cold or shivery; or yellow skin or eyes (NHS).

Chest pain? Call 911. A gallstone attack can cause chest pain that feels like a heart attack (ACG) — don’t try to tell them apart yourself. Left untreated, blocked bile or pancreatic ducts can be fatal (NIDDK).

What the gallbladder does

The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ in your upper right belly, below the liver. It stores bile, which the liver makes, and when you eat it empties bile through the bile ducts into the small intestine to mix with food (NIDDK) and help digest fat (MedlinePlus). It isn’t an essential organ: you can live normally without it (NIDDK).

Gallstones: what they are and how common

Gallstones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material that form in the gallbladder, from the size of a grain of sand to a golf ball. Cholesterol stones are made mostly of hardened cholesterol; pigment stones are dark and made of bilirubin; some people have both (NIDDK). Cholesterol stones are the most common type in the United States (ACG).

Gallstones are very common, affecting 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population, which is almost 25 million people. About a quarter of the nearly 1 million people diagnosed with gallstones each year will need to be treated, usually with surgery (NIDDK).

Who is more likely to get them?

NIDDK lists (NIDDK):

  • Women — especially with extra estrogen from pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills. Women aged 20 to 60 are three times more likely than men to develop gallstones (ACG).
  • Older people and those with a family history.
  • American Indians, who have genes that raise cholesterol in their bile and the highest rate in the United States, and Mexican Americans.
  • People with obesity, especially women; people who have had fast weight loss, such as after weight-loss surgery; and people eating a diet high in calories and refined carbohydrates and low in fiber.
  • People with certain conditions, including cirrhosis, sickle cell and other hemolytic anemias, Crohn’s disease, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes or insulin resistance.

MBHA’s Pregnancy and Weight Control guides are being written.

Silent stones and gallbladder attacks

Most people with gallstones have no symptoms. These silent gallstones don’t stop the gallbladder, liver or pancreas from working, so they don’t need treatment (NIDDK). The ACG puts the chance of a silent stone causing an attack at about 1% a year (ACG).

When a stone blocks a bile duct, bile builds up and causes a gallbladder attack (biliary colic): pain in the upper right belly, sometimes lasting several hours, often after a heavy meal and in the evening or at night. After one attack, more will likely follow (NIDDK). The pain may be severe and constant, in the middle of the upper belly or just under the ribs on the right, and may make you sick (NHS). It can be felt in the right shoulder (ACG), the back, or just under the right arm (MedlinePlus). Gallstone symptoms can resemble appendicitis, ulcers, pancreatitis or reflux (NIDDK) — see our Acid Reflux and Digestion guides.

Complications

Many people have no symptoms until a complication appears (NIDDK):

  • Cholecystitis — a swollen, irritated gallbladder, usually from a stone blocking its drainage tube. The sudden, sharp pain spreads toward the right shoulder, usually doesn’t go away within a few hours, and may come with a high temperature, nausea or jaundice (NHS).
  • Bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis), which can lead to jaundice and a serious bile duct infection called cholangitis (ACG).
  • Gallstone pancreatitis — a stone blocking the pancreas’s outflow (ACG). Gallstones and heavy drinking are the most common causes of acute pancreatitis (NHS). MBHA’s Pancreas and Liver guides are being written.

Gallbladder polyps

Polyps are small growths on the gallbladder lining, found in about 0.3% to 9.5% of people (Expósito Portales et al., 2026), usually by chance on ultrasound. Most smaller than 10 mm are harmless cholesterol polyps (SRU consensus, 2022). Guidelines differ on which need follow-up scans or surgery (Expósito Portales et al., 2026), so ask your doctor what your report means.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about symptoms, health conditions, family history and diet, and examine your belly; blood tests can show infection or inflammation. Ultrasound is the best imaging test for finding gallstones — safe and painless. CT can miss stones; MRI can show stones in the bile ducts; a HIDA scan shows how the gallbladder squeezes and whether a duct is blocked (NIDDK). Ultrasound isn’t an x-ray, so it is safe in pregnancy (ACG).

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Watchful waiting for silent stones. Laparoscopic (keyhole) gallbladder removal for stones that cause symptoms; ERCP for bile duct stones; hospital care and usually surgery for cholecystitis; ursodiol for selected people who can’t have surgery. Abdominal ultrasound without insurance about $200–$650+. Gallbladder surgery without insurance typically about $10,000–$20,000; with insurance, copays plus 10%–50% coinsurance. ERCP and ursodiol: cost estimate being researched. Many people go home the same or next day after keyhole surgery and are back to most activities in a week or two. Gallstone symptoms usually don’t return, though some people have new ones such as diarrhea. Serious complications are very rare.
Chiropractic No role in treating gallstones or gallbladder disease. Not a treatment for gallbladder problems, so no cost is listed. Gallbladder pain can be felt in the back, the right shoulder or under the right arm. Get new pain like this checked by a doctor rather than treated as a back problem.
Acupuncture Not a treatment for gallstones. Studied a little for attack pain and for gut recovery after keyhole surgery. About $125–$230 for a first private visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90. Medicare covers acupuncture only for chronic low back pain. We found little research, and rigorous trials for attack pain are lacking. An attack needs medical care first.
Herbal medicine No herb or “flush” is proven to dissolve or remove gallstones; the “stones” passed after an olive-oil flush are thought to form from the oil. Milk thistle and turmeric: no good evidence for gallstones. Cost estimate being researched. Herbs can interact with medicines and affect surgery. Ask a doctor before taking peppermint if you have gallstones. Never use a flush to put off care.
Massage therapy No role in treating gallstones. Avoid deep pressure on the belly during or soon after a gallbladder attack. Not a treatment for gallbladder problems, so no cost is listed. Massage won’t move or dissolve stones, and shouldn’t be used to put off seeing a health care provider.
MBHA Wellness Coach Reach a healthy weight slowly, avoid crash diets and weight cycling, eat more fiber and healthy fats with fewer refined carbs and less sugar, keep regular meals, stay active, and rebuild routines after surgery. Cost estimate being researched. These habits may lower gallstone risk and help recovery, but they can’t guarantee you won’t get gallstones. They support, never replace, medical care.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Treatment depends on whether stones cause symptoms or complications. We name medicines but don’t list doses.

Watchful waiting for silent stones

If gallstones aren’t causing symptoms, you probably don’t need treatment; if you have an attack, contact your doctor, because symptoms that go away may come back (NIDDK). Nearly 80% of gallstones are found by chance and stay symptom-free (Patel and Jepsen, 2024). You may have follow-up appointments to check the stones aren’t causing problems (NHS).

Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy)

Removing the gallbladder is the usual treatment and one of the most common operations on U.S. adults; almost all are done by laparoscopy. Open surgery is used when the gallbladder is severely inflamed, infected or scarred (NIDDK). Laparoscopic removal is the treatment of choice for most people with biliary colic or acute cholecystitis (Patel and Jepsen, 2024). In studies reviewed in 2023, gallbladder pain went away in 66–100% of people, but indigestion-type symptoms improved less often and some people developed diarrhea (Shabanzadeh, 2023). See Gallbladder surgery: what to expect.

ERCP for bile duct stones

A thin, flexible scope passed through the mouth lets doctors remove stones from the common bile duct; stones in the gallbladder itself can’t be removed this way (ACG), so gallbladder surgery may also be needed (ACG). Complications such as pancreatitis, infection, bleeding or a tear occur in about 5% to 10% of procedures. Afterward, seek care right away for black or bloody stools, fever, severe chest or belly pain, or trouble breathing (NIDDK).

Cholecystitis and pancreatitis

Acute cholecystitis is usually treated in hospital: not eating or drinking for a time, fluids through a vein, pain relief, and antibiotics if infection is suspected. Gallbladder removal is often recommended, frequently within a week; if surgery isn’t an option, a tube can drain the gallbladder (NHS). NSAIDs are safe and effective for the pain of cholecystitis and biliary colic (Patel and Jepsen, 2024). Acute pancreatitis needs urgent hospital treatment, and you may also need treatment for its cause, such as surgery for gallstones (NHS).

Ursodiol

For people with cholesterol stones who can’t safely have surgery, ursodiol can dissolve small stones, but it may take months or years and stones can return (NIDDK); the ACG says it dissolves stones in 40–80% of cases (ACG). It isn’t for routine use (Patel and Jepsen, 2024). It can also help prevent gallstones during rapid weight loss from a very low-calorie diet or weight-loss surgery (NIDDK). You will need regular liver tests and ultrasounds; tell your doctor about all medicines and supplements, as aluminum-containing antacids may interact (MedlinePlus).

What it costs

  • Abdominal ultrasound: about $200–$650+ without insurance (national average about $390); with insurance, typically a $10–$50 copay or 10%–50% coinsurance (CostHelper).
  • HIDA scan: about $730–$1,939 in hospital cash prices, median around $1,280 (The Pricer, 2026).
  • Gallbladder surgery: typically $10,000–$20,000 without insurance, and doctor fees can add several thousand dollars; with insurance, copays plus 10%–50% coinsurance (CostHelper). Ask for an all-in quote.
  • ERCP, MRI and ursodiol: cost estimate being researched.

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has no role in treating gallstones or gallbladder disease; we found no good evidence that spinal adjustment helps them. It matters for another reason: gallbladder pain doesn’t always stay in the belly. A gallstone attack can cause pain in the back or just under the right arm (MedlinePlus), gallstone pain can be felt in the right shoulder (ACG), and cholecystitis pain spreads toward the right shoulder (NHS). If you have new upper-back or shoulder-blade pain — especially after meals, or with nausea, fever or yellowing — get it checked by a doctor rather than treated as a back problem.

Find a chiropractor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Acupuncture doesn’t remove or dissolve gallstones, and we found little research on it for gallbladder problems.

Safety and cost: few complications have been reported, but nonsterile needles and improper treatment have caused harm; most states license acupuncturists (NCCIH). A first private visit is about $125–$230, follow-ups about $90–$185, and community clinics about $50–$90 (The Pricer, 2026). Medicare covers acupuncture only for chronic low back pain (Medicare.gov).

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

No herb, supplement or “flush” is proven to dissolve or remove gallstones. An attack with any warning sign at the top of this page needs medical care, not a home remedy.

“Gallbladder flushes”

Flushes usually mean drinking olive oil with juice such as lemon juice (Uma Devi et al., 2026), sometimes with laxatives. People then pass soft, stone-like lumps they take to be gallstones. Doctors explain these are understood to form from the olive oil itself, and that such purging doesn’t remove gallstones (van Hooft et al., 2010). The flush was the method most often promoted by misleading YouTube videos on gallstones (Lee et al., 2014). One 2026 case report described shrinking stones over six months of flushes, but the man was also taking several prescription medicines, and one case can’t be generalized (Uma Devi et al., 2026).

Milk thistle and turmeric

There isn’t enough high-quality evidence to reach firm conclusions about milk thistle for any condition; it can cause bloating and nausea, and some products have been mislabeled or contaminated (NCCIH). We don’t know enough to say whether turmeric helps any condition, and highly absorbable curcumin products have been linked to liver damage (NCCIH). We found no good evidence that either treats gallstones.

Peppermint

Peppermint oil may help irritable bowel syndrome but can cause heartburn, nausea and belly pain (NCCIH). Memorial Sloan Kettering advises people with a history of gallstones or gallbladder inflammation to consult a physician before taking it (Memorial Sloan Kettering).

Interactions and surgery

Supplements can interact with medicines, and some may increase bleeding or affect anesthesia, so tell your care team about everything you take well before surgery (NCCIH). If you take ursodiol, check before adding any product (MedlinePlus).

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage has no role in treating gallstones, and we found no good evidence that it moves or dissolves them; one 2021 report on four people who tried belly self-massage to prevent bile duct stones returning had no comparison group (Uchida et al., 2021). As an MBHA caution, avoid deep pressure on your belly during or soon after an attack, and don’t use massage to put off seeing a health care provider (NCCIH). Rare serious side effects of massage have been reported, some with vigorous techniques (NCCIH).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

Healthy eating and regular activity that help you reach and keep a healthy weight can lower your risk (NIDDK). An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you build these habits step by step; check with your health care professional before changing your eating plan (NIDDK).

  • Lose weight slowly. Fast weight loss or long gaps without eating make the liver release extra cholesterol into bile. Stay away from crash diets; weight cycling may also lead to gallstones. Experts suggest starting with 5 to 10 percent of your starting weight over 6 months (NIDDK).
  • Fiber and healthy fats. Eat more fruits, vegetables, beans, peas and whole grains, fewer refined carbohydrates and less sugar. Healthy fats such as fish oil and olive oil help the gallbladder empty regularly; limit fried foods and desserts (NIDDK).
  • Regular meals. Avoid long stretches without eating (NIDDK) and very heavy meals, which often precede attacks (NIDDK).
  • Move. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate activity such as brisk walking, plus muscle strengthening 2 days a week (NIDDK).
  • After surgery, a coach can help you ease back into walking and routines and track food and bowel changes to share with your surgeon (see below). If you have diabetes, fit these steps into your diabetes plan.

Another approach

Gallbladder surgery: what to expect

Before: if you’re overweight, try to lose some weight, and if you smoke, stop at least 6 weeks before surgery. A pre-admission visit usually checks your medical history and medicines and may include blood tests, an x-ray and an ECG (NHS). Tell your care team about all supplements too, as some may increase bleeding or affect anesthesia (NCCIH).

The operation: under general anesthesia, the surgeon makes a few small cuts, pumps air into the belly, and removes the gallbladder with a camera tube and small tools; it usually takes about an hour. Open surgery, through one larger cut, is used only if the gallbladder is very inflamed or keyhole removal isn’t possible (NHS). Afterward, bile flows from the liver straight into the small intestine (NIDDK).

Risks: complications are very rare; the most common is bile duct injury, which can need more surgery (NIDDK). Other risks include blood clots, wound infection, bile leaking into the belly, and stones left behind in the bile ducts (NHS).

Recovery: you can usually go home the same day, though some people stay overnight. Have someone drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. Your wounds will be sore for a few days. Start light activity and build up gradually, avoid strenuous exercise, and don’t drive until you can do an emergency stop without pain. Many people return to work in 1 to 2 weeks, later for heavy or physical jobs (NHS). After keyhole surgery, most people return to normal activity in about a week (NIDDK). After open surgery, expect up to a week in hospital and about a month before normal activity (NIDDK).

Get help promptly for severe or worsening pain, pus or redness and swelling around your wounds, yellow skin or eyes, a very high temperature or shivering, or pain and swelling in a leg. Call 911 if leg pain and swelling come with difficulty breathing — this can be a blood clot in the lungs (NHS). Pain that comes back can have other causes, such as a bile duct stone or sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, so tell your doctor (ACG).

Another approach

Eating after your gallbladder is removed

You can live normally without a gallbladder (NIDDK), though some people have diarrhea, belly pain or bloating at first (Altomare et al., 2019).

Member stories

Living with Gallbladder Problems & Gallstones? Share your experience

Real experiences help others choose. Tell us what you tried — conventional medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, herbs, massage or coaching — what it cost and what changed.

No stories have been published for this condition yet. Yours could be the first.

Which approaches have you tried?

What did you try, what did it cost, and what changed for you? Please leave out anything you’d rather keep private.

We read every story before it’s published and may shorten it. Stories describe one person’s experience; results vary. See our Privacy Policy.

Sources

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

Find the right practitioner

Search MBHA’s Health Directory for doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists across the Monterey Bay.

Search the Directory All Health Conditions

The Monterey Bay Holistic Alliance is a charitable, independent registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse any particular products or practices. Claims and statements herein are for informational purposes only and have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. We strongly recommend that you seek out your trusted medical doctor or practitioner for diagnosis and treatment of any existing health condition. MBHA provides administrative support, education and navigation — not medical, legal or tax advice — and cannot guarantee claim, billing or fundraising outcomes. MBHA is not an emergency service: in an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.